Electric head-light for locomotives



(No Model.)

F. BALL. Jr.

ELEGTRIG HEADLIGHT FOR LOCOMOTIVES, &c. No. 277,536. Patented May 15,1883.

1/ 11.1,) 1/ 11/ 'I/I/II/IIII/III/I.

N. PETERS, Phuwmho m m. Washington, [1.0v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLAMEN BALL, JR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ELECTRIC HEAD-LIGHT FOR. LOCOMOTIVES, 800.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 277,536, dated May 15, 1883.

Application filed August 2, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern following specification is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its objects to provide an improved electric head-light for locomotives and to provide a novel hood for reflecting the rays of light upon the pilot of the engine or upon the track in front thereof. These objects I accomplish by the novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a locomotive electric head-light embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same on line a: 00, Fig. 1, showing the construction and arrangement of the adjustable refracting reflector, peak, or hood.

A represents the case in which the and electric lamp are mounted.

B is the front opening or sight of the same, in which the magnifying-lens B is secured.

O is aventilator at the top of case A, preferably immediately above the point where the lamp is to be suspended.

D is the reflector, mounted in any desirable manner, of the usual parabolic or conical form, and having a full, rounded end at its focus, as shown, which forms a highly-reflecting hemispherical shape, as at d, to the focus end of the reflector, and being similarly polished within, and by its hemispherical form provides an offieient rear reflecting surface.

D D are openings or orifices made in the body of the reflector D, near its rear end, vertically opposite each other, in and through which the carbons of the electric lamp pass, their ends, between which the are is formed, arriving at a point preferably midway between the openings D D.

E represents an ordinary electric lamp, suspended from the ventilator 0 within the case A, so that its carbons E E shall pass through the openings D D made in the reflector D, as hereinbefore set forth. Openings 6 0 may be reflector provided in the reflector adjoining the lamp E,

ciency of my improved head-light will readily be seen, very little power being necessary to supply it with electricity to form the light.

F F are wires connecting the lamp E with any desired electric generator or dynamo-machine located on the locomotive and driven by the same power that drives said locomotive.

Gr represents a longitudinally-arched plate curved downward at its outer edge, '(see Fig. 1,) which plate forms a' hood which. is adjustably mounted in guides g g on the upper face of thesight B, as shown, orin the same manner upon the reflector D, so as to be brought forward over the said sight or the mouth of thereflector, being secured in position preferably by thumb-screws g. It is highly polished on its under side similar to the reflector D, and when brought forward to any desired position over the sight or mouth of the reflectorit causes the rays of light from the same to refract and fall upon a point just ahead of the engine or vertically upon its pilot to a degree of efficiency never heretofore attained in the use of any other head-light, and is an important feature of my invention.

H is a small knob or button, forming a bandie on the hood G, by which to conveniently adjust it. 7

It is obvious that the hood Gvcan be used in connection with any other construction of headlight than the one herein shown and described; but I prefer its use with my electric head-light in order to augment its utility, and thereby make it as near as possible a perfect head light.

I am aware that the carbons of an electric lamp have heretofore been extended into a parabolic reflector through side openings therein, the reflector having a short tube of small diameter placed near the light with its axis coincident with the reflected beam but such I do not claim.

I am also aware that alocomotivehead-light in, said lamp having means for connecting has been composed of an exterior casin g havwith an electric generator or supply, substan ing a ventilator in its top and containing a r'etially as described. 20 fiector through the focus end of which pro- 2. The combination, with the reflector of a 5 jects an ordinary oil-burning lamp; but such head-light, of the herein-described hood G, is not my invention. adjustably supported in the guides g 9, said I claimhood being capable of horizontal adjustment,

1. An electric head-light for locomotives whereby it can be brought forward to any de- 25 combining in its structure the exterior casing, sired position over the sight of the reflector,

10 A, provided at its top with the ventilator 0, substantially as described.

and adapted to be attached to a locomotive, the In testimony whereofI have hereunto set my parabolic reflector 1), inclosed by the casing hand in the presence of two subscribing Witand rigidly connected therewith, and having nesses.

the lens Band the electric lamp E hung within FLAMEN BALL, JR. r 5 the casin g from asupport in the ventilator, and Witnesses:

having its carbons extended into the focus end WM. F. NUTT, Jr.,

of thereflector through side openings,D, there- JOHN J. FINOI-I. 

